Trade & Investment: British High Commissioner to Nigeria visits Nasarawa State

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms Catriona Laing, has visited the Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Abdullahi Sule,  for high-level discussions with the State governor, key stakeholders in the State government, civil society and business leaders.

During the two-day visit  (8th-9th of September), the High Commissioner commended the Governor for his achievements in his first two years in office, which include an increase in the State’s education budget to 35%, improving business environment indicators, attracting investment and making some concrete investments to improve the lives of citizens. They also discussed current efforts to stimulate the economy in the State.

Ms Catriona Laing got the chance to see first hand what makes Nasarawa State such a popular and increasingly prosperous area to live, work and invest in. Known as the “Home of Solid minerals”, the State houses solid minerals of economic potentials such as zinc, lead, gold, tin and tantalite.

During her two-day stay in Nasarawa State, the High Commissioner visited the Nasarawa Bus Terminal in Karu to witness the progress being made as construction at the site continues. The planned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which will operate from the bus station, will improve the lives of Nasarawa residents.

It also aligns with Nigeria’s climate change commitments in its new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), where 22% of transport kilometres should be BRTs by 2030. She also visited a second bus terminal under construction in Lafia, the State capital.

The High Commissioner also attended her first Durbar in Nigeria, at the Lafia Stadium where she met with some of the Nasarawa State’s traditional leaders. She thanked the leaders for honouring her and spoke about the need to continually celebrate and uphold history, culture and tradition.

The visit to Nasarawa State was an opportunity for the High Commissioner to stop over at the Kilema Local Rice Mill.

The UK has helped develop flood and drought-resilient rice varieties for Nigeria and introduced techniques to not only reduce the amount of water but also the amount of methane which arises when rice is grown. This is also another element of Nigeria’s climate change commitments – at least 50% of Nigeria’s rice should be grown this way, she suggested.

Ms Catriona Laing also visited a cassava-processing centre, which she was pleased to see was still continuing after the UK’s support more than 10 years ago.

In advancing the agricultural sector of the State, the UK Government had previously supported a fertilizer distribution and livestock vaccination system that still exists in Nasarawa State.

On animal vaccines, the UK leveraged a community-based organization, FAHCI to establish a vaccinators’ network and to prime the market.

FAHCI has continued to stock vaccines in their Lafia office and retail to vaccinators that come from the rural parts of Lafia, Doma and Akwanga Local Government Areas.

“We continue to support research and production of animal vaccines as well researching drought and flood resilient seeds and nutritious crops,” said Ms Catriona Laing.

At the end of the visit, the British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, assured:

“The UK Government supports Nigerian Government’s economic reform efforts, including diversification of the economy to promote conditions for sustainable and inclusive growth. We continue to lead efforts to mobilize the international community and the Nigerian Government to do more.

“Our trade and investment relationship goes across a number of sectors and we want to increase that investment, especially in the non-oil sectors that make up over 90% of Nigeria’s economy and which are key to Nigeria’s recovery after the COVID-19 recession.

“Being here in Lafia has helped me see first hand the many great investment opportunities Nasarawa State has to offer and I’m very grateful to Governor Abdullahi Sule for inviting me.”

Amaka E. Nliam